Rowing Solo and unsupported across Atlantic Ocean

I am getting ready to row solo unsupported across the Atlantic on 6 December this year. My journey which is also part of a race (Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race) starts in the Canary Islands and finishes 5500Km later in Antigua, Caribbean.

In 2008, myself and good friend Bill Godfrey rowed the same race winning it in 50 days. We rowed in 90min shifts, 24/7 except for Christmas where we took 30 mins off to have our Christmas “lunch”.

My solo trip is about setting a few records, but those in time fade and it’s just the memories of the pain, deprivation and the amazing ocean that stay with you. The longer any expedition takes the more you have to endure the stronger your mind must be.

Physical pain is a given and must be embraced. It’s really what drives me. Self-Discipline is the key to success in any hostile environment. There is no such thing as the absence of fear so fear must be subdued – I usually find the best of me in big adrenalin moments. Taking on the small things and getting them right and focusing on them allows the big things to happen.

I’m just an ordinary person, who is 100% committed to owning my life. I was a school teacher before I decided to follow my dream of becoming an adventurer, explorer and motivational speaker. I now try and inspire people to own their lives. Subsequently I’ve led many expeditions to remote regions around the world. I’m a family man, married to Kim and we have a beautiful daughter called Hannah.

Everyone has dreams. Everyone has goals and ambitions that they hope to one day turn into reality. The main reason why I’m doing this, is because I see how I’m able to motivate people and change their lives for the good. I’d like to use it as a platform to get people to start owning their lives so that they can get out there and achieve their dreams as I have.

For more information on this Atlantic Ocean rowing race winner, Peter van Kets and his 2009 challenge please visit www.rowpeterow.co.za. He also writes an inspirational blog about reaching out and achieving your goals and ambitions. So be inspired and visit www.own-your-life.co.za

Credits for the images used in this article about rowing the Atlantic ocean belong to Peter van Kets.

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Hicks plans to circumnavigate Antarctica at roughly 55 degrees south,
departing from Tasmania in January 2009. From there he will drop south to pass below New Zealand’s South Island before heading east across the South Pacific Ocean towards Cape Horn. Here Hicks aims to pass through the Drake Passage, at around 58 degrees south, before making course for South Georgia.

On departure from Tasmania there will be 360 days of provisions on board
Hicks’ boat ‘The ‘Flying Carrot’ but he intends to make landfall seven or so
months into the journey to avoid a full winter at sea. Whether Hicks reaches
South Georgia before winter moves-in remains to be seen; this is entirely
dependent on what weather greets Hicks in the Southern Ocean.

If conditions become too severe he will stop in Tierra del Fuego instead. However, Plan A is to arrive into South Georgia some seven months into the expedition, hopefully around June 2009, to re-supply and over-winter there until October, when he will again take to the Southern Ocean and head eastwards to Tasmania. Hicks’ shore team will need to adapt its logistics planning for the time and location of the re-supply as the expedition develops.

Olly will aim to stay in the circumpolar current (the ocean current that
travels all the way around Antarctica) at roughly 50 degrees south. It is known that the Southern Ocean is the most inhospitable ocean in the world as there is no landmass to prevent the seas building. It is anticipated that Olly and The Flying Carrot will face some 50 foot waves, at times for days on end. Rowing will not be possible in these conditions so Olly will ‘batten down the hatches’ and live in the watertight stern cabin.

At the age of 14 Olly Hicks announced that he would row
the Atlantic. By 23, Olly had become the first person to row solo Eastbound across the North Atlantic, from New York to the Isles of Scilly, completing this epic voyage in 124 days and breaking three records:

•                   The first person to row solo from America to the UK
•                   The youngest person ever to row an ocean solo.
•                   The longest solo-rowed crossing of the North Atlantic.

 Prior to rowing the Atlantic, Olly completed endurance expeditions that not only proved him, physically and mentally, but also gave him first-class
credentials to present to sponsors.

These expeditions included:

•                    Lands End to John O’Groats. (Cycling 1609 kilometres, the                    full length of the UK)
•                    The Marathon Des Sables. (Running six marathons back to               back across the Sahara)
•                    The Yukon Canoe race. (Canoeing 700 kilometres:             longest canoe race in the world)

Almost two years on and Hicks is hoping to become the first person to row
solo around the world.You can read more about this epic journey at

www.virginglobalrow.com

Related posts:

1. Young British Rower Sarah Outen sets Ocean Rowing Record
2. Peter van Kets prepares boat for record breaking Rowing Race Across Atlantic Ocean
3. Daily Ocean Rowing, Kayaking and Water Expeditions News Roundup Fri 27 Nov
4. Do you fancy rowing in this ocean? Part of carnitine lipoic video series
5. kayaking – This is What Distinguishes an Ocean Kayak From the Rest of the Kayaks